James Robert Kerns, 82, of Bob White went home to be with his heavenly Father on Monday, Nov. 19, 2007, after an extended illness. He was born Oct. 23, 1925, in Johnson County, Kentucky, and was a son of the late Clarence and Ella McKenzie Kerns.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved son, James Douglas "Doug" Kerns of Van; grandson, Roger Ray Samples of Bob White; brothers, Howard of Paintsville, Ky., Jack of Orient, Ohio and Richard of Tennessee; and sisters, Doris Anette Kerns of Kentucky and Jessie Kerns Eigensee of Columbus, Ohio.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Marcelene Eskew Kerns of Bob White; two daughters, Diana Kerns Moore and husband, Junior, of Bim and Karen Kerns Halcomb and husband, John, of Alderson; daughter-in-law, Marie Kerns of Van; grandchildren, Sheryl Moore Kessinger and husband, Stacy, of Turtle Creek, Rob "Tater" and wife, Mandy Dickerson Moore, of Bob White, Mark and wife, Julie Setser Kerns, of Charleston, Stephanie Samples Lee and husband, Scott, of McChord AFB Seattle, Washington, Jamie and wife, Stacey Waller Kerns, of Bridgeport and Darren Davis of Alderson; 11 great-grandchildren, Brandon Lee, Kristin Lee, Zachary Kerns, Logan Lee, Emily Moore, Katie Kerns, Bethany Moore, Leah Kessinger, Isaiah Kerns, Dalton Kessinger and Ryan Lee; two brothers, Ray D. And wife, Madge Kerns, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and Kenneth Kerns of Columbus, Ohio; three sisters, Neva Brown of Flat Gap, Ky., Ruth Maddix of Scott Depot and Grace and husband, Brian Barber, of Paintsville, Kentucky; brother-in-law Ray L. Eskew of Wolverine, Mich.; sister-in-law, Olga Kerns of Paintsville, Ky.; and six nieces and nine nephews.

Service was at 11 a.m. on Nov. 23, at Handley Funeral Home, Danville, with the Rev. Tom Price, the Rev. Mike Allen and Pastor Gary Hunt officiating. Interment was in Memory Gardens, Madison, with military graveside rites performed by VFW Daniel Boone Post 5578 Madison, West Virginia.